Tony Blair hosts Oasis at a Number Ten reception. Sarko’s popularity slips as he jetsets around the Mediterranean in aviators. Carla Bruni wows the Brits and earns instant Jackie/Audrey cred. Hillary Clinton reveals that she and Bill have earned over a hundred mill since leaving office. Blair cops criticism for holidaying with Cliff Richard. A tv mogul becomes Italian PM. Peter Costello wines about his sacrificed earning power. Tony Abbott cries poor. Pollies queue up for photocalls with that Irish dude who saved the world and his sunnies. Kevin Rudd has Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman round to tea. Prince Phillip conspires. Vladimir Putin poses for topless military pr0n. Peter Garrett is a Minister. Oprah endorses Obama.
Snapshots of a decade or more of Blingocracy.
So what’s with the phenomenon of the Blingocracy that The Times tracks?
Is it the fact that the “political class” lack the glamour of those who also attract our gaze in an age of superficial political difference? Is it that they mix in plutocratic circles and would like the bucks that go with the glam? Is it every day garden variety narcissism and egotism? Are we awash in a sea of signs and they need to commodify themselves to “cut through”? You tell me!
Probably in part - parading in public with a celebrity guarantees media attention at least.
As to the dining/holidaying with celebs which is not supposed to be a public parade, I guess pollies can easily be as starstruck as anybody else, and such rendezvous are considered a perk of office.
“Costello wines about his sacrificed earning power”
Gone on a bender in despair? Not the first time either.
Politics is showbiz for ugly people.
“Is it the fact that the “political class” lack the glamour of those who also attract our gaze in an age of superficial political difference?”
I’ll check with Bono and get back to you.
John Howard wassn’t photographed with anyone famous,other than fellow pollies, was he? Didn’t want to take the attention away from himself.
Oh, some crickrers and footballers. Well …
Meant cricketers.
Paul - look at this
George Clooney is meeting with Gordon Brown about Darfur today. I applaud everything that George Clooney does on principle. He can do no wrong.
Agreed, Fine. Like an older Johnny Depp.
Laura - oh, Steve Irwin - well, yeah. He WANTED to meet George Bush, didn’t he? Just another dead Liberal voter.
PS.
I’m one of those people that sort of belongs to the Bindi Irwin Scares Me Club.
George Clooney and Johnny Depp. What can I say? I did a survey last year at an Oscar party and everyone wanted to have sex with them, regardless of gender or sexuality.
And Bindi Irwin scares me too.
What are your thoughts on Keanu?
My thoughts on Keanu is that he’s gorgeous. But not quite George or Johnny territory. I also suspect he’s not as stupid as people think he is.
Ah well, Keanu and Winona are my equivalents to your George and Johnny!
Fair enough. Chacun a son gout. I think Winonoa is fantastic in ‘The Age of Innocence’. And I’m not knocking Keanu at all.
I’m not knocking Clooney or Depp either! I am knocking Bono though.
Yes, Bono should be knocked savagely IMHO. And I’m a big fan of U2 (1980-1991; minus a couple of crappy albums in the 80s).
I think I’m more scared for Bindi Irwin than scared of her: she always looks like she hasn’t slept, poor thing.
Daniel Boorstin, “The Image” circa 1964: a lament and a prophecy
I agree with the Bono knocking. I feel like I should like him, but he seems so pompous.
If Hugh Jackman makes a shit film, people don’t hate him the way that people hate a government that gets smug and complacent. When Hugh Jackman entertains people for two hours on stage or screen, people feel good.
Pollies want to make people feel good with minimal effort, and want to avoid blame for any decision that goes pear-shaped. In Australia, the arts need government more than the reverse. It’s a good fit, but too much familiarity isn’t good for either party ultimately.